AFAP manages the Australian-Pacific Centre for Emergency and Disaster Information (APCEDI) to provide news on natural disaster events in the Asia-Pacific region and to help with rapid disaster response assessment. This was originally a communications network that was activated during a disaster to disseminate information to our Asia-Pacific NGO offices. Now APCEDI has a much wider application across the Asia-Pacific Region.

Wednesday, January 05, 2005

APCEDI ALERT EQ-SSEA #14, 2004: Series of Earthquakes and Tsunamis Devastate Wide Area of South and Southeast Asia

Updated Information and Death Tolls

Relief efforts are now in full gear throughout the affected areas. AFAP's relief team has also now arrived in Sri Lanka and started operations. Death tolls have been climbing, but seem to be beginning to stabilise in most areas. The following updated figures are from five primary sources: OCHA, USAID, BBC, Agence France-Presse and the Indian Government. These figures reflect the averages being provided by the above sources.

Sumatra and off shore islands, 94,081 dead, 3,000 missing, Death toll rates continue to increase but at a slower pace. Aceh Province has about 94% of the casualties with Northern Sumatra Province with 6%. Relief efforts are now widespread and seem to be finally penetrating even the most remote areas.

Sri Lanka, 30,196 dead; 876,883 displaced persons, 16,665 injured, 3,791 missing, 100,000 houses destroyed (OCHA). Widespread flooding of low lying areas in the east continues as storms continue to affect area. Highest casualty rates are from the East Coast cities of Trincomalee and Batticaloa and the South Coast cities of Hambantota and Galle. Affected Areas Map

Thailand, 5,046 dead, 10,496 injured, 3,810 missing most casualties from Phuket and Phi Phi Islands and along the peninsular west coast including Krabi area. Especially hard hit on Phuket Island was the Khao Lak National Park area and surrounding beaches which had many resort hotels destroyed and also had many campers and more rustic style coastal hostels.

Burma, 90-100 dead; On January 2nd the Government claimed that 53 are dead, 21 missing, 43 injured and 778 people are homeless from 17 devastated villages. However today January 4th, the World Food Program estimated a death toll in the hundreds. Most damage in the Irrawaddy Delta and coastal towns of the Tenassarim Peninsula; 36 deaths reported in Pyinzalu Island near Labutta town and another 20 from the Thanintharyi Division in the peninsula. AFP and UNICEF claims that there is widespread damage on the Co Co Islands but the Burmese Government is denying this.Despite the Government issuing new figures today, many scientists and aid groups are now claiming the state of devastation in affected areas is far greater than being admitted. They are pressing the Burmese Government for full details.

Somalia 132-142 dead, 35 missing, 50,000 homeless with the majority of destruction along the Puntland Coast and on Hafun Island.

Madagascar Initial BBC reports of 100 dead or missing in the coastal city of Manakara, were not confirmed by the Government relief team. However, 1,200 people in Mankara are homeless. Sainte Marie, Sambava and Vohemar also had damage to coastal areas. Updates can be found from the Madagascar Tribune

APCEDI

APCEDI is a service of AFAP
- the Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific and FSPI
- the Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific International.

Disclaimer: This service provides indicative alert information
and should only be construed in conjunction with other sources of information
such as local and regional weather services. Reports are as accurate as possible,
but as the information is indicative, external confirmation should be sought.